Building-block.



E. CHAPMAN. BUILDING BLOCK. APPLICATION FILED PERM, 190B RENEWED JULY 22, 1909;

Patented Nov. 30. 1909.

M W N 7 9 H m a w a J. z m J m a w y H a i ////A/ I witmeooeo Ammzw. a. Grimm 00,. PNOYO-LITHDIJRAPHERS. wAsummcn u c UNITED STATES PATENT orricn ELMER CHAPMAN, or ARIEL, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

Application filed February 24, 1908, Serial No. 417,406. Renewed July 22, 1909. Serial No. 509,064.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ariel, in the county of Wayne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building- Blocks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to building blocks, and more particularly to means used in connection with the blocks for preventing dampness.

The object of the invention is to so construct the block in order that when they are built one upon the other there will be no creeping of dampness up the walls, as is common with similar constructions in use.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means which enables me to secure a better mortar surface.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a block of this character which has a firm supporting base and at the same time forms a ventilating space for the walls.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall partially built up of building blocks having my improvementthereon, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the wall, Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the galvanized iron mortar piece, Fig. a is a plan View of an inside corner block, and Flg. 5 is a plan View of an outside corner block.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 represents the face of the block, which in this instance is formed in the shape of an elongated slab to the back of which is secured a U-shaped portion 2, having a central aperture 3 running therethrough. All side wall blocks are similar in form and have secured upon their upper faces the damp proof stripsa and 5, of galvanized iron or other suitable material. The inner corner blocks shown in FigAare in the form of a figure 6 having an lnner wall 6, and a U-shaped extension 7 formed integral therewith with a central aperture 8. As shown in Fig. 5 the outside corner block is similar in all respects to the side wall blocks, except that it is provided with a right angular extension 9, which forms the corner. The damp proof strip a is formed substantially U-shaped in formation and also substantially U-shaped in section so that its sides 10 lap over the U-shaped part 2 or 7, as the case may be and extend down along the sides thereof. The strip 5 is simply a straight strip of L-shaped metal with the flange 11 extending on the inner side thereof in a similar manner, as do the flanges 10 of the member 4. The upper faces of the members t and 5 are corrugated or serrated, as at 12 and 18, so as to give the mortar a better hold. Those members are preferably made into the blocks, and I wish it understood that I may use them both upon the upper and lower edges of the block, as will be found most expedient in practice. I find, however, that a single protecting strip for each block is sufiicient to accomplish the purpose desired, that of preventing any dampness and of giving a good mortar surface.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patcut is:

i A building block comprising a face slab provided with an integral laterally extending approximately U-shaped portion, a corrugated metallic damp-proof strip positioned upon the upper edge of the slab and having a downwardly extending retaining flange to engage the inner face of the slab, and an approximately U-shaped damp-proof strip of corrugated metal positioned on the upper edge of the U-shaped portion of the slab and having flanges at both edges to embrace opposite sides of said U-shaped portion, the ends of the U-shaped strip abutting against the flange of the first mentioned strip and said flanges serving to securely hold the strips upon the upper edge of the block and to keep moisture rising on the face of the block out of contact with the mortar between the upper faces of the strips and the lower face of the blocks resting upon the mortar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELMER CHAPMAN. Witnesses G. W. SWARTS, H. G. BORTREE. 

